Here it is. I probably would've procrastinated further by not
posting this, but then I realized what time of year it was, and since
it's so soon for the holidays....
Anyway, as of about right now this story has run for a full year.
Hooray for me. Kudos to those who remember my first fic posted, and
why it was okay at best. C&C welcome.
------------------------------------------------------
#12: Face of the Enemy
The Wheel of Fire, Part 4: The Dying of the Embers
Written by Razorclaw X (spiceoflife@hotmail.com)
http://www.crosswinds.net/anaheim/~slythe/ranma/ranff.html
Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 and characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi. And
all that other good stuff. Proper licenses belong to respective
properties and characters. The manga has precedence over material in
the anime.
This file can be freely distributed so long as it appears in its
complete form and proper credit. No part may be reproduced for
monetary gain without permission from the author. (to which the answer
is probably "no")
Fanart inspired by this story may be found at:
http://www.crosswinds.net/anaheim/~slythe/ranma/ranfa3.html
Author's note: This series takes place after the final manga story,
Vol.38, after my previous fics, "Moments of Transition," "Team Ranma
vs. the Orochi Assassins," "End of the Beginning," "Descending
Spiral," "Specters," "The Law of Amazons," "Doco in the Battle of the
Bands," "Doco in Hawaii," "The Past is Prologue," "Treasure of the
Musk Dynasty," and "Enter the Shadows." Knowledge of the previous
stories helps in understanding the minor details of the story (see
"Plot Points").
This is the final story in the 'Dying of the Embers' part of the
story, dealing with trouble that has been brewing for quite a while.
It takes place during Autumn, near the end of October and the
beginning of November. The story focuses on Ranma and Akane, and has
a bit about Tofu and Kasumi.
Plot Points (from previous stories)
==================================
1. Ranma and Akane are married. Ryoga and Akari are married.
2. Doco (Ranma, the Tendo sisters, the Kunos, Shampoo, Mousse,
Ling-ling and Lung-lung, Ryoga, Akari, Ukyo, and Konatsu) goes
semi-professional.
3. Nodoka insisted that Ukyo join her family to remove her past
dishonor. While Ukyo accepted, she opted to retain her name for duty
to her family.
4. Mousse has reached an understanding with both Shampoo and Cologne.
After being kicked out of the tribe for a while, he's gain new insight
and wisdom, but he still blindly-follows Shampoo.
5. Kodachi and Tatewaki reached an understanding. Both hate their
parents and Ranma. They know Ranma is the pig-tailed girl. Family
honor has been restored since Ranma recently saved Kuno's life.
6. Kodachi, Ukyo, Akane, and Shampoo have reached an understanding.
They treat each other like old friends, as there's no reason to fight
anymore.
7. Ling-ling, Lung-lung, and Shampoo's father work at the Nekohatten.
8. Kodachi and Pantyhose Taro admit an affection for each other. Part
of Kodachi's reason is so she can win her bet against Asuka the White
Lily, but Taro is actually flattered about it.
9. Ukyo discovers she can manipulate chi, but as of yet it manifests
only in her okonomiyaki. With proper training she could become more
powerful than Ranma, according to the minions of Orochi. She briefly
studied under Herb.
10. Kuno has devoted himself to mastering every technique of the
Chinese Phoenix Sword. With what he knows now he becomes a match for
Ranma. The Phoenix Sword consumes the power of one's soul.
11. Mousse is learning to fight without his sight, relying on his
hearing.
12. Ukyo is training in unarmed combat under Ranma.
13. Taro has returned to Nerima, having completed his quest. He now
stays at the Kuno estate at Kodachi's insistence.
14. Seiryu, the future self of Ukyo, warns the Nerimans that Ranma
must die in order to save the future. It was she who was behind the
dreams of Kuno and Ranma. The nature of Ranma's problem is unclear.
Before her cessation of existence, Seiryu gave Ranma her memories
of the future.
------------------------------------------------
Opening: [October] Ready... Go! (Shampoo, Ukyo, Kodachi, Akane)
(Ranma 1/2 1991 Song Calendar)
(Shampoo) In a foot race, I wouldn't lose
Even if I get off my bicycle. I love you.
When I win, it'll be good to have a date.
(Ukyo) I can't do it while baking a cuttlefish gem,
My fiancee that was taken away from me.
The match! I will go easy in this battle.
(Kodachi) The perfectly clear Autumn sky,
A stack of bentos in my arms;
I will make you eat them. Oh! Ranma-sama!
(Shampoo) It's good seeing you, isn't it?
Great-grandmother, as strongest in the art of catering
Only I will arrive at the goal, right?
(Ukyo) Also during the match, if it's business and
Okonomiyaki, then it's "Ucchan"
with takoyaki and yakisoba on the side.
(Kodachi) The flags of the nations fluttering in the wind,
Kuno's house of ad balloons
Please climb up to give me a hug at the commendation stand.
(Akane) You're not becoming a popular rascal.
It's not jealousy, but
My pride. I didn't approve of it!
(All) We will show mercy to Ranma and burn him with fire,
Terrible daughters, the four of us.
(Shampoo) I also want to become your fiancee.
Always running away cunningly, huh?
It's good to hug you closely, gently.
(Ukyo) If I decided with love,
My life will be complete.
The okonomiyaki love letter I wrote;
I will deliver it immediately!
(Kodachi) Red wins and white loses,
The Black Rose dances near the goal!
Everyone, I appreciate your efforts,
But I'll have the final victory!! [Ah-ha-hah!]
(Akane) You're not a scoundrel,
Anything Goes Martial Arts
It's stubborn willpower, the sign!
I'll bet that's it!
(All) We will show mercy to Ranma and burn him with fire.
Ah, the fight has become exhausting.
Ah, happiness, Saotome Ranma [Kodachi: -sama!]
* * * * *
Ranma saw everything as if he were merely a spectator.
He stood in a cramped, dark chamber, the walls made of plain
concrete blocks. The ceiling and floor were made of cement. The young
Saotome was under the impression that the room was under the ground.
A single light illuminated the room, hanging from the ceiling above,
shining upon the single metallic object of great bulk that occupied
the otherwise-empty room. The object appeared almost box-shaped, large
enough for a person to stand in inside, Ranma guessed. A single hatch
marked the only entrance into the object.
He was there, and not there, at the same time.
A door, hidden by the darkness of the shadows, opened. Ranma watched
as Kodachi, marked with age by several wrinkles and streams of silver
through her hair, entered. The Kuno girl dressed in a plain, clean
white lab coat; in her arms she carried a clipboard with several
scribbled notes on it. Kodachi walked next to the machine, taking
position at one end.
He didn't know how he knew, but Ranma knew that she was about
fifty-eight years old. Not bad for her age. Of course, if I know
Kodachi she'd try her best to put her skills into retaining her
relatively-youthful appearance.
That placed this time in.... 2036? Forty years!
Following behind was Ukyo, also marked with age. She dressed in a
sky-blue kimono, her hair tied up in a bun, having no traces of silver
as Kodachi did. The feature that set Ranma's old friend apart from her
usual appearance was a large, vertical slicing wound that ran down
Ukyo's forehead, over her left eye, and further down her cheek. The
left eye was dead, staring off into nothingness, but Ranma knew that
was the eye that saw what eyes couldn't see, whatever that means.
Ukyo's dead eye glowed with a bluish tint.
As Ranma was merely a spectator of events which have yet to pass,
the two girls in the room failed to notice his presence. They
shouldn't have, at least, since Ranma wasn't there when the event
happened.
Kodachi called from her position. "You do understand that physics,
much less temporal mechanics, isn't my area of expertise, you know."
Something in Ranma told him that Kodachi was a medical biologist.
"It doesn't matter," Ukyo replied. "We just need you to make sure
this machine works."
Seiryu, Ranma thought. That's what Ukyo called herself in the
future... at least, in her future.
The future that ended in disaster.
Kodachi approached Seiryu, holding four large, cumbersome-looking
armbands, each appearing as oversized wrist watches. "Each one of you
needs to wear one of these around your arms."
"What's this supposed to do?" asked Seiryu.
"It's a time/space anchor," explained Kodachi. "Since time travel
technology is still in its infancy, the transversal process has yet
to be perfected. These will keep you in place in time, as if you've
always existed in that time."
Seiryu nodded, accepting one of the anchors, fastening it to her
arm carefully. She reached into the folds of her sleeves for another
object, and held it up to the light for Kodachi to see.
"The reversal jewel," Kodachi whispered.
"Yes, it is," replied Seiryu.
Ranma swallowed. The reversal jewel is an Amazon artifact that
magically reversed the wearer's true feelings if worn upside-down,
and amplified them, if worn right side up. In the last battle against
Seiryu, Ranma had removed the jewel from the back of her neck.
"I've taken everything into account," explained Seiryu, "and, when
I come face-to-face with Ranma, I myself don't think I can finish
him off. But, with this brooch, I won't be overcome with such
difficulties." She turned to Kodachi and handed her the jewel. "You
have to put it on the back of my neck, upside-down. I don't want
Ranma to see it when I confront him, and I don't want to be able to
take it off accidentally."
Kodachi nodded.
This must be the time travel machine, Ranma thought, studying the
metallic machine. Seiryu and her pals had the time/space anchors when
they started out on their journey, so either something went wrong with
them in the trip, or they got damaged somehow. Either way, Seiryu
ended up keeping herself and her three companions anchored in time
by the will of her chi alone. That must've been why she couldn't
finish me when she had the chance; Seiryu was too busy trying to stay
in place in time.
But, that still doesn't explain why I have to be killed.
The transformation in Seiryu went unceremonially. The blue aura
around her dead eye tinged to red.
Ukyo sacrificed her life and love to complete her mission, Ranma
told himself. She knew what the reversal jewel would do, she knew
what she had to do, and she understood the consequences. In the end,
when Ranma removed the brooch from Seiryu, Ukyo had given him these
visions, these memories of the future, so that when the time of
judgment comes, Ranma would make the right decisions. It was then
her existence had ended.
The problem was, Ranma had no idea what even caused the destruction
of the future, the annihilation of the world, of the people, of
everything Ranma held dear.
"Ranma?"
The young Saotome opened his eyes, greeted by Akane. He sat alone,
cross-legged, in the Tendo dojo, as if meditating. Well, he WAS
meditating, after a fashion.
"Ranma, what are you doing?" asked Ranma's wife.
"Oh, nothing," assured Ranma, standing up. "Just contemplating the
visions Seiryu gave me just before she died, that's all."
"The visions?" asked Akane. "You mean, the ones about the future?"
Ranma nodded. "Yeah. There's so many of them! It's as if Seiryu
gave me all her memories, and I've yet to sort them all out. Just now
I've focused on one particular memory, hoping to piece together what
happens in the future."
"You want to talk about it?" asked Akane.
Ranma shook his head. "I don't quite understand everything yet. All
I can do now is try to focus on each memory, and piece together the
whole story." He produced a palm-sized notepad from his pants pocket.
"I think I'd better write it down before I forget."
Akane nodded. "Well, you know where I'll be."
Ranma resumed his seated position, watching his wife exit the dojo.
He sighed. Seiryu was from forty years in the future, yet, she chose
this time period, of all time periods, to drop in! She did say the
time of judgment was drawing near... but how soon?
Just what happened in forty years that destroyed everything?
The day was dawning that Autumn Saturday. As there was no school
that day, Ranma spent the entire morning contemplating the memory
of Seiryu's he'd seen. It would only be the first, he knew, in a
series of long and painful memories.
The work would be worth it if I can figure out a way to avert
whatever disaster befalls the future without killing myself, Ranma
told himself grimly.
He walked silently for several beats, letting his feet do the
work, as Ranma's mind was preoccupied with his thoughts. Almost
automatically, the young Saotome steered himself clear away from the
Nekohatten; one of the last things he wanted to do was to chat with
Shampoo.
For that matter, Ranma didn't want to talk to anybody.
He found himself in a quiet park, occupied only by the birds and
the occasional passer-by. He sat at the fountain that stood sentinel
in the center, gushing water from the head into the cool, clear pool
below.
Ranma gazed into the pool for a moment, as if studying his
distorted reflection. He realized that his mind wouldn't be at ease
until he'd finished sorting through Seiryu's memories.
Taking a deep breath, Ranma turned away from the pool, and tried
to relax, surrendering his consciousness to his mind.
The young Saotome martial artist walked passed the first memory,
going on to the next, as if he were in a museum, staring at the
individual works of art as he passed them. This one, however, took
place in the last place Ranma expected.
Seiryu stood apart from the three men, dressed in her usual blue
kimono. The three men appeared rather young, perhaps in their teens
or early twenties, Ranma guessed. They waited by the rim of a
pure pool, where a single bamboo reed jutted from the center.
Jusenkyo.
Seiryu glided over the surface of the pool, just above the calm
water surface. "This is it, the cursed training grounds!"
The first man asked, "So, which pools should we jump in?"
Seiryu chuckled. "I never dreamed that ANYONE would want to
curse themselves!" She pointed to the pool below her. "This is the
Spring of Drowned Man. I'll take each of you to your own pools, but
this is the one that makes the difference. Come."
She beckoned the three men to follow. Seiryu had lead the trio to
yet another pool. "This, my friends, is the pool of the red bird."
One of the men stayed behind as Seiryu continued her tour.
As she approached the next pool, the future Ukyo announced, "This
is the pool of the snapping turtle." The second man stayed behind.
"This," Seiryu said, pointing to a third pool, "is the Spring of
Drowned Bengal."
All three of Seiryu's followers stood by the rims of their
respective pools, staring into the cool waters.
"After you jump into the pool, you'll experience a transformation,"
explained Seiryu. "Once you get out of the pool, I want each of you
to jump into the Spring of Drowned Man, understand?"
The three men nodded. Without hesitating, all three jumped, feet
first, into their respective pools.
Ranma couldn't believe what he was seeing. Why would anyone want to
throw themselves into the pools like that?!
Of course, as soon as the three cursed men jumped into the Drowned
Man Spring, Ranma gasped, recognizing the outcome of the combined
curses.
The first man, known as Byakko, emerged as a tiger-man, having the
torso of a man, but the four legs of a normal Bengal tiger.
The second man, known as Genbu, was a giant turtle, standing
upright, possessing opposable thumbs on his forelegs. The bulk of
the turtle's shell made him look fat, but that concealed Genbu's
surprising speed.
The third man, a large red bird with hands on his wings, was
Suzaku. This one stood upright on two birdlike talons, his eyes
possessing human intelligence.
"You three have made your sacrifices," announced Seiryu. "Time
may not appreciate what you three are about to accomplish on my
behalf, but Heaven shall remember!"
The young Saotome shook his head. As the others said, Seiryu's
three minions were Jusenkyo-cursed. Had he not seen the
transformations before his eyes, Ranma might not have believed it.
It was the transformation that destroyed these three's anchors!
They can't keep their clothes on themselves; that must be it! But,
what about Seiryu's?
Just what was it that drove three perfectly-fine young men to
throw their lives away like that? Ranma wondered.
Ranma snapped awake once more, still sitting at the edge of the
park fountain.
Well now, that didn't help all that much, Ranma decided. Maybe I
need some help with this meditation thing.
With one person in mind, the young Saotome stood up, and exited
the park.
"Ranma! It's been a while."
"Yo, Doc," greeted Ranma.
He stepped into Dr. Tofu's office. Ranma hadn't been to the
chiropractor's office for quite some time now, since his injuries
were either nothing to worry about, or too severe for Dr. Tofu to
handle (in which case Ranma would end up in the hospital instead).
Genma had a part-time job working with the chiropractor, although
where the money went was anyone's guess.
Dr. Tofu didn't look like he'd changed much. Ranma guessed he still
had the hots for Kasumi, but he didn't want to find out by getting
Kasumi to call or anything. Whenever Dr. Tofu even THOUGHT about
Kasumi, his patients were in loads of trouble. Well, that was the
old days, at least; lately the good Doctor hadn't done that kind of
stuff. Then again, Ranma had no idea how much contact he'd had with
Kasumi, either.
"So, what can I do for you?" asked Dr. Tofu.
"I think you can help me with something that's been bothering me
for a while," Ranma began.
Tofu nodded. "Mmmm... it's not a good idea to keep problems like
that to yourself. What is it?"
Ranma scratched his head, taking a seat at one empty chair. "Well,
it's not a physical thing, really. It's more of a mental thing."
Before the doctor could say anything, Ranma continued, "No, don't
you go there. Actually, it's quite a story."
"I'm listening," replied Tofu, taking a seat of his own.
"Well, it all started with these strange dreams I've been having,"
Ranma began.
"When did they start?" asked the chiropractor.
"I don't know exactly," the young Saotome answered honestly. "The
first one I remember was when the Amazons kidnapped me and took me
to their village to marry Shampoo. It was really weird."
"Tell me about it."
"I was running; I don't know why. I got attacked, one after another,
by Shampoo, Ukyo, Kodachi, Ryoga, Mousse, and Kuno. Of course, I
woke up before it got any worse. The second dream was even stranger;
I saw those six, plus Konatsu and Akane, trapped within crystal
prisons. One after another, someone hidden in the shadows destroyed
them all, claiming that without them, I die. Anyway, that dream kept
popping up, until one day I managed to take control of my dream; I
attacked the shadow person, and who I saw was Ukyo."
"That's strange," noted Tofu. "Wasn't she one of the eight that
was killed in the prisons?"
"Yeah, she was," confirmed Ranma. "But, this wasn't the same Ukyo.
This Ukyo was much older, and she had a scar over her left eye. I
later found out this was the future Ukyo, who called herself Seiryu."
"A visitor from the future?"
"Yeah, well, she came back in time to kill me, because I caused
some disaster in the future. When I defeated her, she gave me her
memories, just before time threw her back into the future, into
nonexistence, she said, something about no longer existing there. It
was these memories Seiryu gave me that I'm here to see you about."
"Go on," Tofu said, taking a sip of coffee he left on his desk.
"Anyway, this morning, I tried meditation," Ranma explained. "I
managed to focus on one particular memory, and it replayed for me,
like a video, in my mind." He shrugged. "I'm no good at this
meditation/relaxation thing, and I think you're the only one that
can help me now."
The chiropractor nodded thoughtfully. "Well, I have studied
relaxation techniques for my work. I've done it myself quite a few
times." He chuckled. "Especially over Kasumi."
Ranma was about ready to throw himself from the chair, as he
expected Tofu to run to Betty-chan's side and dance with the
skeleton dummy. But, unexpectedly, Tofu remained calm.
"Hey, I guess that relaxation stuff really does work!" Ranma
exclaimed.
"I've been practicing for the past few months," explained Tofu.
"Now all I've got to do is work up the courage to tell Kasumi my
deepest feelings...." He sighed dreamily.
"Umm, Doc?" Ranma said, waving a hand in front of Tofu's eyes.
"Remember MY problem?"
Tofu shook his head. "Oh, yeah! Right. Sorry about that."
"Anyway, if I'm going to sort out all these memories," explained
Ranma, "you're going to have to help me. I don't think I can make it
to the deeper, more disturbing memories, without help."
The chiropractor rubbed his palms together. "O-kay...." He stood
from his seat, only to sit on the floor, cross-legged. He beckoned
the young Saotome to do the same.
Ranma sat in turn.
"Now, close your eyes, and take a deep breath," began Tofu.
Ranma did as he was told. This part's easy....
"I want you to relax, to listen to the sound of my voice,"
continued Dr. Tofu, in a soothing voice. "Let the world go. Let all
your stray thoughts wander. Don't try to control them, let them flow,
like a river."
He tried to do as the chiropractor told him.
"Let your mind be clear of all other thoughts. Concentrate on the
day Seiryu gifted you with her memories. Concentrate... find it! Now,
pick one memory, any memory, and follow it...."
The only illumination offered by the crypt was the light from the
slit-like windows. Cold stone slabs partitioned the dark room into
several rows, each the final resting place of the deceased.
Ranma knew this place; this was the place where Akane was laid to
rest. It was one of the brief flashes of memories he saw when Seiryu
was transmitting her memories to him. This was the memory he'd been
dreading to see most.
He approached Seiryu silently. The future Ukyo appeared a bit
younger than in the other memories as she stood by the slab that
Akane rested on; perhaps this memory takes place much earlier. Yet,
she still possessed the facial scar. Who knows when?
"Akane, my friend," Seiryu began, "we were too late." She choked
on a sob. "I was too late...."
She grasped the free hand of her dead friend. "I should've been
there by your side, but I wasn't. I should've let Kodachi handle the
mission by herself, but I knew the mission was too important for me
to stay behind. I guess you should be happy to hear that the time
machine device has been taken."
Seiryu wiped away a tear. "The machine may be only a prototype, but
our physicists think they can finish the government's work. I'm just
glad we got there before Nemesis could destroy it. It's our only hope
to defeat him, and for the future." She sighed. "It might take years
before we can get the machine working properly; I'm told that it might
take at least a decade more of research and testing before we should
use it."
A decade before.... Ranma thought. It took ten years to get the
time machine to work properly? The government (which government?) was
researching time travel? Who's this Nemesis person, and what happened
to Akane that Ukyo would blame herself for her death?
"If I'd only been there... I could've healed you...." continued
the future Ukyo. She stared at her hands, which seemed to glow a
faint blue. "Damn it, I was too late!"
Seiryu sank to her knees, and rested her chin on the slab, next to
Akane's ear. She whispered, "I promised Ranchan that I would look
after you... and I've failed. I shouldn't have gone. The only thing I
can do now is finish what we've started...."
Come on, Ukyo, Ranma called silently, even though he knew she
couldn't hear him. Tell me what happened to Akane!
"Rest peacefully," finished Seiryu. She stood up, wiping away her
tears, and raised a clenched fist in determination. "Nemesis, you've
dared to take away everything I've held dear: my friends, my family,
everything! From now on, you're on borrowed time....."
Ranma snapped awake once more, sweating heavily.
"Ranma?" called Dr. Tofu.
The young Saotome looked around. He was still in Dr. Tofu's office,
sitting cross-legged on the floor. Dr. Tofu sat at his desk,
apparently writing down some notes.
"That was DEEP," proclaimed Ranma, shaking his head.
Tofu offered Ranma a cup of water. "Here, take this."
Ranma accepted the cup graciously, and drowned it down. "I think I
learned something I didn't want to know. And some more questions than
answers."
"Would it help to talk about it?" asked Tofu.
Ranma shrugged. "I don't know.... From what I can tell, all the
problems are caused by this person named Nemesis. He killed Akane."
"Oh," Tofu said, now at a loss for words. Pausing to think for a
few moments, he asked, "Well, do you feel like doing it again? I
mean, the experiences might...."
"Naw, I can handle it, Doc," assured Ranma. He took another deep
breath, and closed his eyes.
He was back in the room that contained the time machine. Rocks,
chunks of the ceiling, pelted the ground as the room shook. Kodachi
was at the time machine controls, her lab coat covered in dirt, even
blood (hers, or another?), her hair a mess. She looked like she'd
just waded through a fight.
And how right that conclusion was, as Ukyo and her three minions
entered the chamber, slamming the door behind them quickly. Each one
of the four wore time/space anchors on their left arms, as if it were
a badge of honor.
None of the three men looked like they were ready for what they were
about to do.
"Is it ready yet?!" Seiryu yelled at Kodachi.
"It'd better be!" cried back Kodachi, frantically flipping switches
on the device she obviously had no idea how to operate.
"Look, I don't care if we get there at the precise time," Seiryu
shouted, "but you'd better make sure we get there BEFORE the time of
judgment!"
"Hurry!" warned Genbu. "Nemesis's forces are breaking through the
outer defenses!"
Suzaku grabbed Kodachi's sleeve. "We either go now, or never!"
Kodachi nodded frantically, powering-up the time travel machine.
She gestured to the inner chamber. "In you go!"
One after another, Ukyo's three minions entered, and, one after
another, each disappeared in a bright flash of light. Seiryu spared
one final glance at Kodachi. "Make sure Nemesis cannot follow!" With
those words, Seiryu jumped into the machine.
The last Ranma saw of Kodachi, she was activating a sort of timer
strapped to her body, hidden under her lab coat....
Kodachi.... Oh, shit! No!!
Ranma had expected the memory to end there, but it continued
nonetheless. His senses were bombarded by a kaleidoscope of colors,
tumbling in a spiral pattern, all around him. He traveled just behind
Seiryu, becoming disoriented with the temporal travel.
And, without fanfare, the time tunnel ended, dumping Seiryu to the
empty alley below. She landed on her side, something below her
breaking her fall significantly.
Seiryu leaned against a nearby wall, brushing herself off. Suddenly,
she realized what broke her fall. She peered at the time anchor that
rest on her left arm, the arm she landed on....
Ranma found himself, flat on his back, staring at the ceiling of
the chiropractor's office. Dr. Tofu's face got in the way, a look of
concern betraying his features.
"Ranma... I think you should rest," suggested Tofu.
Ranma shook his head. Everything, the world, seemed to stop
spinning. "I don't think I want to try that soon." Not to mention I
didn't learn anything new.
Tofu helped his patient to his feet. "How do you feel?"
"Like I got trapped in a spin-dry," replied Ranma.
"Well, why don't you come back tomorrow?" suggested Tofu. "I don't
think any further delving into those memories would be good for you
right now."
"You've got no argument from me," agreed Ranma.
The next morning Akane found herself standing alone by the front
door, watching her husband leave the Tendo gates. Sighing, she made
her way to the kitchen, where Kasumi was washing the dishes from
breakfast.
"Kasumi," began Akane, "can I talk to you?"
"Why, of course!" answered Akane's older sister. She continued to
wash. "What would you like to talk about?"
"Well, I think there's something wrong with Ranma," Akane decided.
"Ever since he met Seiryu he's been preoccupied with some disaster
that's going to happen in the near future, and he thinks it's his
fault."
"And what is he doing about it?" asked Kasumi.
"He's gone off to see Dr. Tofu...." Akane started, but Kasumi cut
her off.
"Oh! I haven't heard from Dr. Tofu in quite some time," interrupted
Kasumi. "Oh, I'm sorry, Akane! Please continue."
"Anyway, he's trying to meditate to figure out the story behind
Seiryu's memories, memories of the future she gave him. The problem
is, Ranma won't let me help him. For that matter, he won't even talk
to me about it!"
"I'm sure Ranma has a good reason," assured Kasumi. "It must be
difficult for him to carry such a burden, isn't it? Perhaps he does
not wish to burden you with the same."
"I never thought of it that way," admitted the younger sister.
"Ranma's a lot more considerate than most people believe," added
Kasumi. "He tries too hard to protect others that he often hurts
them instead." She sighed. "I suppose that's his lot in life."
"Sometimes, however, protection isn't something one needs," Akane
pointed out. "It's a lot more dangerous to not know than to know,
isn't it?"
"Perhaps," Kasumi replied thoughtfully. "But remember, Akane,
sometimes knowing isn't in one's best interests."
"Ranma, can you do me a favor?" asked Dr. Tofu.
Ranma Saotome sat cross-legged once more in the middle of Dr. Tofu's
office, about ready to submerge his consciousness to find more of
Seiryu's memories. At least, until Tofu interrupted him.
"What?"
"Do you think it would be possible for you to help set me up on a
date with Kasumi?"
Ranma shrugged. "I don't know. Wouldn't it be better if you went
down there this afternoon and asked?"
Tofu shook his head. "No! I'll make a complete fool out of myself!
And, in front of Kasumi! How can I?"
"You're the one with the relaxation techniques," Ranma pointed out,
"so why don't you put them to good use?"
"I don't think I can do it!" admitted Tofu, shaking.
"Hey, I've been in love with Akane for far less time than you've
been with Kasumi," Ranma said, "so why prolong your distant
relationship like this? You have to make the first move!"
Resolve seemed to settle in Tofu's eyes. "That's it! I'll march
over there right now and ask...!"
When the door to Tofu's office slammed shut, leaving Ranma alone
with the skeleton, Betty-chan, he smiled, then set about to continue
his journey.
Unlike Seiryu's other memories, this one was shrouded in complete
blackness. Ranma stood alone, unable to see his own hands before him;
such was the power of the darkness. There was nothing there, nothing
at all.
Just... black.
"Hello?" Ranma cried out, his voice echoing in the darkness.
Echoes. That means there IS an end to this place!
"Hello, Ranma," someone called back.
Ukyo Kuonji materialized in front of Ranma, bathed by the glow of
a single white light, hanging from above. Draped over her shoulders
loosly hung a long mantle of deep sea blue, the sleeves dangling at
the sides freely. Underneath, she dressed in traditional Shinto
robes, her shirt tinged a slight pink, her loose navy pants seemingly
a size too large, as they hid her feet from view. Her hair was tied
up in a pony-tail, letting it hang loosely down her back. Unlike the
other images in her memories, this Ukyo lacked the eye scar. The
only other indication that this was not Ranma's Ukyo were the light
wrinkles marring her hands; her face was as youthful as always.
Slung over her shoulder, on her back, where a bandoleer and giant
spatula would usually be, was a strap holding a long, bamboo-poled
trident, its tri-pronged head apparently crafted of stainless
steel, Ranma guessed. It was this very same trident that Seiryu had
used in her previous battle against the Nerima group. He didn't know
how he knew, but Ranma realized there was an artful pattern barely
visible in each of the trident's pronged heads: the smaller side
heads were decorated with a tiger and a phoenix on each, while the
central head was decorated with a serpentine dragon, coiled in what
appeared to be a delta shape-- quite odd, as the coil appeared very
unnatural.
"You've finally come," the woman said.
"Ukyo!" exclaimed Ranma in surprise. "W...what is this?!"
Ukyo spread her arms wide. "All of this, Ranma, is a stored
memory, programmed long ago by myself, just in case I did end up
sharing memories with you. It was my contingency plan, after all, so
I thought I'd help you along by creating this programmed memory."
"Good old Ucchan," Ranma praised. "This truly isn't random
memories after all."
"Correct," Ukyo replied. "Up to the point I arrived at your time
period, I'd been updating this program. Since then I felt I could do
better by killing you entirely, so I left it alone. I've selected only
certain memories to be available to you, and in a proper sequence.
Not in chronological order, I'm afraid, because I think it better I
build up the event which would truly shock you. I know it shocked me,
and it still does; developing an eidetic memory sucks that way."
"I understand," Ranma said, stepping closer to the light.
"Do you?" questioned the okonomiyaki chef.
What kind of a question is that? Ranma wondered.
"Do you understand what I've seen, what you've seen, what I've let
you see?" pressed Ukyo. "Do you understand how it feels to recall
all those events, traumatizing as they were, or not, to the precise,
exacting detail, and live with it for the rest of your life? Do you
understand how it feels to make a mistake, remember it, and live
with it for the rest of your life, because it's a terrible mistake
and you can't help but remember it? Do you understand what it feels
like to have all your friends and family die around you, with you
yourself being the only one left alive, and carrying the guilt with
you for the rest of your life, because you're in part responsible
for their deaths?"
"Well, I guess not, if you put it that way," answered Ranma,
scratching his head. Geez, aren't you angry. You're obviously not
the same old Ukyo I know; then again, forty-plus years of torment
must do something to people. Still, it's good to see that even some
of the old Ukyo is still there. She's just bitter.
"You must do me another favor," Ukyo added, closing her eyes,
taking in a deep breath.
"What's that?" asked Ranma.
"You must promise to listen," replied his old friend. "If you don't
promise me this, then all that I've done and will do will have or will
be in vain."
"Why would you ask me that? Of course I'll listen!"
"No, you don't understand! You don't listen. You never listen."
Geez, not only are you bitter, but you're cryptic as well. Actually,
rather creepy, since my Ukyo's becoming quite cryptic in her speech
as well....
Without warning, both Ranma and Ukyo found themselves away from the
darkness, into another memory-- if one could see it in the blackness,
one would say that the scene of blackness dissolved into that of the
one forming now. But the effect appeared only as a materialization
from nothing to something to Ranma's mind's eye.
"What I won't let you do," continued Ukyo, seemingly ready to lash-
out at Ranma, "is compound on my mistakes!"
What Ranma saw shocked him; he stood in the same park he sat in
the day before, only now everything was in ruin. Fires burnt the trees
and other plants to ashes, the fountain was cracked down the middle,
and without water. A red haze hung in the overcast sky, illuminated
by the fires beyond the park in the horizon.
Taking a deep breath, Ukyo explained, "The battle where some of the
world's greatest warriors lost their lives. Nemesis was too powerful."
Carefully, she wiped her face of the tear that rolled down her right
cheek.
"Are you okay?" asked Ranma.
Nodding slowly, she answered, "Yeah. Let's continue."
Arrayed at one end of the park were the gathered few who dared to
defy Nemesis's power. Tatewaki Kuno stood, feet spread, his family
katana gripped in both hands. Next to him stood Shampoo, carrying
her pair of bonbori, as usual, then Mousse, fanning-out throwing
darts like feathers of a bird. Ukyo was next, armed with nothing
but her chi powers. Konatsu held his sword high. Pantyhose Taro,
dressed in his usual attire, stood ready in a fighting stance. Ryu
Kumon, dressed in military-style clothes, did likewise. Even old
Cologne and Happosai were amongst the arrayed champions, as well
as Herb, the leader of the Musk Dynasty, and Kiima, the Captain of
the Guard of the bird-like Phoenix Mountain people, surprisingly
enough. There were other faces Ranma knew and didn't know, but a
quick scan revealed that Kodachi and Akane were nowhere to be seen.
One thing's for sure, those two survived a lot longer than most
of these guys, Ranma thought.
"Where's Ryoga?" he asked suddenly, realizing that the Eternally
Lost Boy was not among the others.
Ukyo shook her head sadly. "After Akari died, he snapped," she
explained. "He challenged Nemesis alone, and tried to destroy him
with all his power, but he ended up burning himself out. Nemesis
didn't even have to lift a finger to kill him."
"Bastard," cursed Ranma.
"The fiery red sky was blotted-out by an even greater light--
the energy of sadness, of lost hope, of the will to die... to say
the least, Ryoga went up in a terrifying blaze of glory. If it
weren't for his sacrifice, I don't think the others would have
banded together. He made us realize how much we needed to work
together, for even if we were strong individually, it meant nothing
to the one who was yet stronger. Uniting as One, the many became
stronger than the few."
Ryoga did this? Ranma wondered, looking back at the crowd of
gathered warriors. Still, being a martyr isn't exactly a long-term
career gig, either.
"But, we were too little too late, as the battle proved," she
finished, pointing away from the gathered warriors. Ranma's eyes
followed Ukyo's arm, slowly turning away from sometime friends and
allies, and enemies.
Clear at the other end of the park stood a single, lone figure,
the height of a man, his features concealed beneath layers of dark
brown robes. A clawed hand, as if from a demon, was all that was
exposed of the man, each claw as sharp as Kuno's katana.
"That," Ukyo said, pointing to the robed man, "is Nemesis."
"I don't believe it," Ranma said, "all of the guys lost to one
man?!"
"Nemesis is no mere man," Ukyo told her old friend. "We were all
but wiped out that day, the day where we stood our best chance to
destroy his evil power. Nemesis grew in strength daily; by some
estimations, compounded continuously, but Kodachi later figured out
his power grew exponentially with time. In effect, the sooner we
defeated Nemesis, the better. But, as I said, we were too late for
that."
"Where am I?" wondered the young Saotome. I could've turned this
battle around!
Ukyo's features became grim. "You're dead."
"Shit," was the only word that left Ranma's lips. So why is it
that they remember Ryoga and not me?
Both watched as Kuno raised his katana high into the air, shouting,
"Nemesis! Your foul deeds will not go unpunished! If it is the will
of Heaven that we emerge triumphant this day, so be it! If we are to
die, then so be it!"
Nemesis chuckled. His voice sounded as if it came from the depths
of the Abyss itself, a hard, low tone. "I am amused. The world's
greatest warriors, gathered here in Japan, today! To challenge the
power of Nemesis, the greatest of all beings to exist, and master of
the world?! Humanity in its present state is too dangerous to exist.
You dare to stand in the way of Nemesis, harbinger of a new age,
cleanser of humanity, in the name of the future and those yet to
come?"
He spread his arms wide, revealing both his clawed hands, allowing
lightning to crackle from his demonic fingertips. "I wield the
greatest power of chi that man have ever seen, enough to rival the
dragons themselves. Maybe surpass them, if those cowards would show
themselves! I am greater than man, greater than kami, greater than
God! Humanity's very existance fuels my power!"
"The dark powers you possess have corrupted you!" Cologne shouted.
"Your grand destiny for the world is not worth the setback of
mankind back to the stone ages."
"Mankind is dangerous," Nemesis countered. "They dare to
destroy one another and the world around them; I have saved the
world by taking their power! If mankind cannot learn to coexist
with one another, and with nature, then what future would be worth
living? If the weak are allowed to live along with the strong, the
world will be doomed. Mankind must be kept in check for its own
good."
"Mankind needs not a shepherd!" cried Taro. "Your self-delusions
have blinded you to the point of insanity!"
"Nothing is created from death...." added Kuno, allowing his voice
to trail off. "It is an end, not the means to an end."
"Enough!" shouted Nemesis. "Let us end this, once and for all!"
Abruptly, the scenery dissolved back into the blackness.
Ranma stared at Ukyo, who turned her back to her old friend, as if
trying to hide. He placed a sympathetic hand on her left shoulder.
"That was a bit much for you, wasn't it."
The okonomiyaki chef cursed under her breath, trying her best to
suppress the tears streaming from her eyes. "I don't know if this'll
be more painful to me or for you."
"Hey, it can't be as bad as that," assured Ranma.
Ukyo eyes lifted, then turned to fix them on Ranma. "You haven't
lived through it."
"Look, I don't pretend to understand what you're feeling, but
isn't this what the others were waiting for-- to fight the good
fight, as martial artists love to do? I'm quite impressed that all
of them worked together."
"Yeah, I suppose so. It was no small feat that got them all
together, you know."
"So, what happened? The battle, I mean."
Ukyo nodded solemly. "Fine. In the end, the harbinger of a new age
destroyed us, opposition to his power. Other warriors would come to
challenge him, but they would fail, as we did. Nemesis became too
powerful after absorbing the vast potential energy born within the
deaths of millions of humans, as well as nuclear power. He believed
he was going to save mankind, and the world, but the corruption of
power twisted him to evil, to insanity. Not even the kami could stop
him; all they could do was to protect what pocket of humans they
could. All the kami together could destroy Nemesis, but centuries of
bitter rivalry prevented them from acting. Had we the means, we
could have united with the nature spirits, but they would not listen
to our pleas."
"In fact," continued the memory, "the power of kami in general
had declined greatly since the dawn of mankind. Two-thousand years
ago no one would dare to even sneeze in the presence of a kami, but
today, with mankind growing to stand on its own feet, without the
help or need of the nature spirits, the power of the kami waned to
the point of nothingness. Today, very few kami possess actual raw
power; among them, are the ancient dragons, a handful of kami, and
the surviving Elders, one of them being Yamata no Orochi."
"Orochi?" repeated the young Saotome.
Ukyo nodded. "In fact, if I'm not mistaken, the Orochi is the most
powerful, and most active, among the old kami; he was powerful since
the day of his emergence. That is why Susano-O could not kill him
outright; the great serpent was much too powerful to simply die. The
next best thing was to prevent him from leaving the Kami Plane. In
any case, the Orochi's dream of destruction paled in comparison to
what Nemesis did."
The okonomiyaki chef sighed. "Just before they died, many people
begged for their gods to save them, whatever the name, shape, or
form. Unfortunately for them, they found out just how powerful their
savior was-- nothing." She chuckled softly to herself. "The fools,
placing all their hopes and fates in one basket...."
"Who survived the battle?" interrupted Ranma, changing the subject.
He had no intention to listen to the future Ukyo's pointless ranting.
"I did, for one," answered Ukyo, breaking out of her trance-like
rant. "The price, however, was high. Konatsu died in my place, but
that was not the only demanded price." With one finger, the
okonomiyaki chef traced a line from her forehead, down over her left
eye, and further down her cheek. "It would serve as a reminder of
what happened that day."
"The day I lost my eye was the day I opened my eyes," explained
the suddenly tired-eyed woman. "Everything started to make sense: my
miserable life, my past, why everything turned out the way they did!
Everything that went wrong happened because of terrible mistakes;
mistakes I saw and set out to correct, which lead me to meet you here
this day."
"Who else?" pressed Ranma.
Ukyo bowed her head low. "The only other survivor was Kuno, but he
was mortally-wounded, beyond recovery."
I don't care about that; I just want you to tell me about Akane!
Ranma shouted wordlessly in his head, hiding the thought from Ukyo.
Right now, the way the conversation was going, Ukyo wasn't ever
going to mention Ranma's wife.
"Even I couldn't save him," continued the okonomiyaki chef. "He
was to die a happy man, having been a part of his finest battle ever.
Kodachi wept for her husband's death, but her brother caused her to
break down completely. She wouldn't come out of the supply room for
days." Ukyo sighed. "I granted Kuno his dying wish; though he would
never experience being a father, I would become a mother."
"You?!" Ranma exclaimed in surprise. "You... and him...."
"Shiji would grow up and die defending Akane from Nemesis," Ukyo
continued. "He looked after Akane when I failed myself. He was so
young yet, too, and so brave, like his father...." She took a deep
breath. "I miss Shiji so much. Damn mistakes, something you just
keep making."
Ranma nodded in understanding. "Did... Akane...?"
Ukyo shook her head. "You died on the day of judgment, so there
was no time. Even if you did marry her, I was kinda hoping you two
would raise a family-- it was something the rest of us were quite
interested in seeing. But judgment changed all that."
"The day of judgment...." Ranma echoed. "Please, you have to tell
me about it!"
"In good time, Ranma," Ukyo assured her old friend. "But first,
there's something else I must show you."
The scene of the ruined park shifted once again, this time to yet
another one of Seiryu's memories. Ranma found himself, along with
his guide, Ukyo, in what appeared to be the Tokyo Tower.
Ranma looked over the side of the rail, staring at the streets
below, as he would any other time he climbed up the tower. He turned
back to Ukyo in confusion. "When's this?"
Ukyo lowered her head sadly. "The day the world would be cleansed
of weak humans."
Suddenly, the landscape was bathed in a hellish, red glow. Ranma
could hear the immediate screams of the people below in the city,
crying out in unison.
a "What's happening?!" asked Ranma, frantically.
"It is the light of judgment," explained Ukyo. "Nemesis created
this from space, pouring his energies into a fine beam that would
annihilate all 'weak' humans. Those without extraordinary ability
were to die that day, which consisted of a good deal of the six
billion people of the world. Almost two-thirds, in fact."
"My...." Ranma muttered, unable to complete his curse.
"Only the greatest, among them, martial artists and geniuses,
would be allowed to live," continued Ukyo. "This is how arrogant
Nemesis was in his quest to 'protect' humanity. He absorbed their
death energies-- the energy released upon the death of an individual
living being-- into himself. All of this was made possible by a dark
deal he made, long ago."
"Don't you mean it has yet to happen?" corrected Ranma.
"My mistake," Ukyo replied. One of many, she added quietly. "But
the time the world will be judged is drawing nearer, and the fate of
the future is in your hands."
"Wait a minute!" Ranma cried. "Why is the decision of the future
all decided with me?! Me, of all people!"
"That is the way the future unfolded."
"But, couldn't you just tell me what the question was, so I would
know not to answer wrongly?"
"How could I do that, if I were not there when the question was
asked? Even then, it could have been a particular course of action
instead of answering a question; I don't know."
"Then what does my decision have to do with Nemesis? Tell me!"
Ukyo sighed. "Very well, I will take you to see the birth of...
Nemesis...."
The scene shifted once more, back into the realm of total darkness.
Ranma looked around in surprise. "Why here?!"
"I was not there when you made your decision," explained Ukyo, her
voice betraying the sense of fear for the first time since the
memory began. "I was only aware of the results-- I got to meet him
face-to-face the time before he slashed out my eye. I only wish that
I hadn't."
A hellish light beamed down from above, illuminating the familiar,
brown-robed figure Ranma recognized as Nemesis. He appeared the same
as before, save for one thing: his hands lacked the demonic claws.
"Nemesis is an ordinary man?!" Ranma exclaimed. "He's not a demon
spirit?"
"Yes and no," Ukyo replied cryptically, lowering her head. "Look
into the folds of his robes, and tell me who you see."
Ranma nodded. He left Ukyo's side, sprinting to Nemesis's position.
He grabbed his enemy by the shoulders, but Nemesis made no move to
escape or struggle.
"I hope I'm not making a terrible mistake," muttered Ukyo, but Ranma
seemed to ignore her, focusing all of his attentions on the dark
form of Nemesis.
"You!" Ranma accused. "You're the one who's going to ruin the
future of the Earth! You're the one who killed Akane, my friends,
even those I never considered my friends! You did this, all because
I made one lousy decision. So who are you, and what did I do to
deserve this?!"
Nemesis failed to respond.
"You even had the nerve to kill me!" Ranma cried. "And you have
nothing to say?!" The young Saotome, in his fury and anger, grabbed
the sides of Nemesis's hood, and threw it back.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" Ranma screamed at the top of his lungs.
Sweating, Ranma panted, as if he were out of breath. He was still
in Dr. Tofu's office, and only a few minutes had passed.
Gathering himself to his feet, Ranma found a glass of water, and
drank it. He felt the cool liquid spill down his parched throat.
For the first time, the young Saotome realized he was dehydrated.
He took several more cups, helping himself to the dispenser next
to Tofu's desk. Ranma pondered on his next move, what he was going
to do!
Without thinking, Ranma threw on his shoes, and jetted out of the
chiropractor's office. He ran.
Akane caught a glimpse of Ranma charging up the stairs. Back so
soon? Well, no wonder, if Dr. Tofu had left his office; right now
he was in the living room, having a chat with Kasumi. For the first
time Akane saw Tofu behaving like a rational man in front of her
older sister!
She marched up the stairs to follow her husband, wanting to know
what he was up to. Akane turned the corner to find that the door to
their room was closed. Quietly, Akane made her way to the door, and
knocked gently.
"Ranma, are you okay?" Akane asked, concerned for her husband.
"Leave me alone!" he cried back.
Akane slid the door open. "It's my room too, you know!"
Ranma was sitting cross-legged, back to the door, bent over,
writing something on a piece of paper. Sweating hard, he looked over
his shoulder and shouted, "You've got to stay away from me, for your
own good!"
"Ranma, that doesn't make sense," Akane said, sitting down next to
her excited husband. "What happened?"
Tears seemed to spill from the Saotome's eyes. He fought to keep
control over himself. "Everything that went wrong in the future,
everyone dying, is truly MY fault!"
"Don't beat yourself up like that," Akane said sympathetically,
patting her husband's back. "Now, explain to me everything."
"Dammit, Akane, I found out the whole story from Seiryu's
memories!" Ranma explained. "She was right in that I had to die, I
must die, if the future is to be saved from Nemesis!"
"Nemesis?! Who's Nemesis?"
"The one who'll annihilate civilization, two-thirds of the world
population, kill you and my friends, everybody!" Ranma cried out,
losing himself to his emotions. "I got a good look at the face of
my enemy, and... and...."
"Who is he?" persisted Akane.
Ranma threw everything into one great burst: "I'M NEMESIS!"
* * * * *
Closing: Let's be Platonic (with Kodachi)
(Kodachi) Nobody else at the seashore, together with you,
we reveled at the time but we settled down.
Your reticent eyes somehow scare me.
The sky, the sea, and the waves all recede in the distance.
Ah, even at the touch of your little finger, my thoughts race!
Till love grows, wait a little while.
Softly brushing away a grain of sand on your lip,
I see myself in your eyes. [Ahahahahahahahaha!!!]
[Follow Me]
[Me & You] Let's be Platonic--
it's a promise! [Ahahahahaahaaa!!]
[Follow Me]
[Me & You] Let's stay Platonic--
I love you. [Oooohoohooohooooo!!]
Suddenly rain falls, and in a hurry, we
run for the car on the road.
Ah, when you roughly pull me by the arm,
it feels like it's broken. Be gentle.
What my heart must decide, the answer
may be known only by the endless waves?
[Follow Me]
[Me & You] Let's still be Platonic
for now. [O-hohohohohoho!!]
[Follow Me]
[Me & You] Let's stay Platonic--
as painful as that may be. [hehehehehehehe!]
To tell the truth, when we almost kiss,
I've felt like saying you're allowed.
[Follow Me]
[Me & You] Let's be Platonic--
it's a promise! [Whaaahaaaahhaaaaa....]
[Follow Me]
[Me & You] Let's stay Platonic--
I love you. [Ooohooohooohoooooo!!!]
----------------------------------------------------------------
Author's Rant
Seiryu's visions have come to play in Ranma's life, as a warning,
or as a threat? Either way, Ranma's life has become even more
complicated. But, what is the decision that Ranma made that changed
the course of his life, and the lives of everyone on the planet?
Truthfully, this story would've been hard to write unless I had
Ukyo in it somehow. She seems to make me write more and better ^^;;;
I knew I had to include Dr. Tofu in the story sometime. I won't
bother to explain why he disappeared in the manga, only that he
never does his stupid things during the time he's gone. There's no
reason to believe that any characters' disappearance means they're
on a trip or anything. Since the manga covers extraordinary events,
I assume Tofu just wasn't a part of them. Why did I have to put in
Tofu? Because he's going to have a part in the next story, too.
Razorclaw X
http://www.crosswinds.net/anaheim/~slythe/ranma/ranff.html
_______________________________________________________
[Ranma 1/2] Uta Koyomi image song (1990)
[10 Gatsu] Yooi * Don! {[October] Ready * Go!}
Singer: Shampoo * Ukyou * Kodachi * Akane
Lyricist: Ranma-teki Kagekidan Bungeibu
Composer/Arranger: Kawai Kenji
(SHANPUU) kakekko dare ni mo makenai ne jitensha orite mo WOO AI NII
kattara DEETO suru yoroshi
(Shampoo) In a foot race, who also won't lose, right?
Even if I get off my bicycle, I love you.
When I win, it'll be good to have a date
(Ukyou) IKA tama yaiteru toki yanai ubai kaeshitaru iinazuke
shoubu ya! tekagen wa sendo
(Ukyou) I can't do it when baking a cuttlefish gem,
my fiance that was taken away.
The match! I will go easy in this battle.
(Kodachi) sumiwataru aki no sora juubako no obentou
tabesasete sashiagemasu wa oho! Ranma-sama
(Kodachi) the perfectly clear autumn sky, a nest of boxed lunches
I will make you eat them. Oh! Ranma
(SHANPUU) miteiru yoroshi ne hiibaa-chan demae de kiete kono waza
GOORU ni tsuku watashi dake ne
(Shampoo) It's good seeing you, isn't it?
great-grandmother, the strongest in this art of catering
Only I will arrive at the goal, right?
(Ukyou) shoubu no aima mo shoubai ya okonomiyaki nara "Ucchan"
TAKO yaki yaki soba mo aru de
(Ukyou) Also during the match, if it's business and okonomiyaki,
then it's "Ucchan"
with baked octopus and also fried soba.
(Kodachi) kaze nabiku bankokki Kunou ie no ADO * BARUUN
dakiage nobotte kudasai hyoushoudai made
(Kodachi) the flags of the nations fluttering in the wind,
Kunou's house of ad balloons
Please climb up to give me a hug at the commendation stand.
(Akane) ukete yarou ja nai YAKIMOCHI ja nai kedo
watashi no PURAIDO yurusanai no yo!
(Akane) You're not becoming a popular rascal. It's not jealousy, but
my pride. I didn't approve of it!
(All) Ranma o megutte hi to moeru ana osorosiya musume yon-nin
(All) We will show mercy to Ranma and burn him with fire,
terrible daughters, the four of us.
(SHANPUU) watashi mo naritai iinazuke nigete iru bakari zurui ne
yasashiku dakishimeru yoroshi
(Shampoo) I also want to become your fiance.
Always running away cunningly, huh?
It's good to hug you closely, gently.
(Ukyou) suki to kimetara inochi ga keya
okonomiyaki ni kaita LABURETAA o suguni todoketaru
(Ukyou) If I decided with love, my life ???
The love letter I wrote on okonomiyaki, I will deliver it immediately.
(Kodachi) aka kate shiro makeru na GOORU ni mau kuro bara
mina-sama gokurousama desu watakushi yushou!
(Kodachi) Red wins and white loses,
the Black Rose that dances near the goal
Everyone, I appreciate your efforts,
[but] I have the overall victory!!
(Akane) yatte yarou ja nai masabetsu-kakutou-ryuu
kounarya iji da wa kanban kakeru
(Akane) You're not a scoundrel, Anything Goes Martial Arts
It's ??? willpower, the sign, I'll bet that's it.
(All) Ranma o megutte hi to moeru aa tatakai wa hateru tomonaku
aa shiawase na Saotome Ranma
(All) We will show mercy to Ranma and burn him with fire.
Ah, the fight has become exhausting.
Ah, happiness, Saotome Ranma
Translated by Ray Huang
Revised January 4, 1995
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"That's my story and I'm sticking to it."--JMS, creator of Babylon 5.
"If you go to Z'ha'dum, you will die."--Kosh, Babylon 5.
"Understanding is a three-edged sword."--Kosh, Babylon 5.
"Never show your hand until the end."--me, being profound.
--Razorclaw X